Ottawa Foodies

I have always enjoyed the food and drink at the Manx. Recently I have been rubbed the wrong way at brunch. The no music atmosphere makes it a little uncomfortable (especially when you are trying not to listen to your neighbors conversation). I also don't like the long wait to pay and leave. I have never opted for "anything else" after breakfast and always like my bill on the table before I finish breakfast. I'm always a little put-off by line waiters salivating over my empty table and I would be happy to leave ASAP. Minor points for a consistently above average experience.

An old reliable as far as pocket-friendly, epicurean pub fare and variety in brew goes, this cozy little nook on Elgin St, though crowded at times, can be the exact ingredient you need to spice up your day. Whether you’re dropping in for a quick bite, staying late with the fella's/ladies for some pints, or swinging by on the weekend for brunch, The Manx usually delivers a good time.
As far as the food goes, the daytime menu is fairly straight forward, with favourites including the chicken & lamb curry wraps, and the soup of the day(doesn't matter what kind, it's always good). The nighttime menu remains relatively the same with a few additions, most notably of which are the dinner specials. Although sometimes a little intimidating, these very affordable selections (usually in the neighbourhood of $16-20) can leave you planning your next visit before you finish your last pint. Unfortunately, consistency in the quality of these specials varies, so for the less daring soul the regular menu items are a safer bet for a satisfying meal.
Despite the inconsistency that the kitchen occassionally suffers from, the floor staff seem to operate on a fairly even keel. With their great selection of beer, whiskeys and other spirits, the servers do a good job of ensuring that your glass doesn't stay empty for too long; even when the place is packed shoulder to shoulder, which often seems to be the case during the dinner hour and especially throughout brunch.
Waiting in line for brunch is not something I endorse very highly, but while waiting in line I was told by a self-proclaimed "regular" that this is the usual song and dance on the weekend. I wouldn't go back and bear the 45 minute wait again, but after having engulfed my "huevos ranchero" (maybe it was just the fact that I'd been waiting all morning to eat that made it so tasty) I can understand why some people have made it a weekly tradition to endure the wait for some tasty grub.
All in all they provide a friendly atmosphere, a hearty drink list, a slightly unpredictable kitchen and solid service. So if you're in the neighbourhood, or even if you're not, it's always a good idea to drop by The Manx. (assuming, of course, that you can get a seat)

As you've discovered, Sadie-L, the service isn't uniformly good (although the good servers are v. good, imo), the seating a bit tight, etc.

Overall, though, i would argue Ottawa needs more pubs like the Manx. On nights when the cooks are working (!), the food is enjoyable ... its sort of Gastropub "for the rest of us" in serving up a wider spectrum of food than you would find in other pubs; and its got good beer / scotch and decent (not over-bearing) pub ambience. Comparing it to GP might be a stretch (i'm not the best judge) ... but it might be worth one more try.

One trick might be to go in with lowered expectations along the lines of "this is just a pub on the Ottawa side of the river". :)

Me and a bunch of friends decided to come here Sunday night because of all the positive reviews.
I have to say, I was very disappointed.
We sat in this tiny corner right by the door where it was very chilly, the lady gave us a "menu" which I honestly thought she had flushed down the toilet and dried off later... it was ripped, small, and crumpled up.
We didn't get very good service at all because our server claimed "we have to cook the food at night cuz the cooks leave, so excuse me if Im in the back a lot", and that's why she couldn't attend to us at all. She was really worried about somebody else's birthday too.
We had one beer and left, and we were there probably for about an hour! The late night food menu didn't seem anything to rave about either, especially because I couldn't decipher what it said.
Overall, I guess maybe I went with too high of expectations. Maybe it was a bad night. I don't know if I'll go back.

Had the Lamb and Cheddar Panini a couple of times.

Yummm Yummm Yummm .... Yes, the coveted Captain Caper 3 Yummm Rating.

I had the chicken wrap and salad last Friday night. It was AMAZING. The wrap had me drooling and the side salad was fantastic. I usually get the fries, but I can only stomach the heaviness so often. I am so glad I went with the salad though! It had all sorts of sprouts, sliced radishes, and other add ons as the lettuce was really fresh as well. Considering we JUST got our orders in before the kitchen closed, I was seriously impressed.

I've been a regular since it opened over 10 years ago. Over the past few years I crave " The Chicken Wrap". Always consistent :) It's a great place to talk, no T.V.'s or loud music. Great live music from time to time.

Recently dropped in on a weekday for a late lunch. Hadn't been in years... place is still the same... small, comfy, friendly and great food. All in all a blessing, as I brought along a newbie. We ordered 2 Apps and shared, there was a ton of food. My guest appreciated the fact that they have Lug Tred beer on tap, an up-and-comer from Beau's Microbrewery in Vankleek Hill. Will make a point to visit more often!

Went again for brunch. Got in much faster this time. I tried their french toast with strawberry compote and chocolate - ordered a side of sausage because it's so good here! The french toast was thick and eggy and soft. Not sure I like their chocolate sauce though.

My wife ordered the heuves rancheros again...

Went there today for brunch. We had to line up but although it was freezing outside, it was warm in the entrance area between the outside door and the inside door. And toasty once you get in this little below ground pub.

The line moved fast. I ordered the Soho breakfast: 2 eggs, sausage, bacon, cowboy beans, hashbrowns, and toast. My wife had the Hueves Rancheros.

The sausage was fat, spicy, and not greasy at all but not dry. The beans were mixed with chickpeas and the sauce was sweet and spicy. The hash browns looked like fried mashed potatoes. Mashed browns. Came with green onion. I would prefer more french fry like hash browns but my wife got some of their homemade hot sauce which went really well with the potatoes. The hot sauce is more tasty than hot. Bacon was good.

She raved about the Hueves Rancheros. I tried it and it was good but the sausage and beans were what did it for me. Very good!

The Manx is the best place in Ottawa for drinks when the patios close for the season or it is raining in my opinion. Cozy atomosphere.
Only place in the city where you can get a Churchkey, delicious! Lots of other great choices aswell.
People are nice too which of course makes the beer taste better :)
Love the potato wedges, make it possiable to have just one more beer.

One of the few places in Ottawa where you can get beer from the Church Key brewery (near Campbellford) a (relatively) local brewery that we enjoy. Great selection of beer overall and great food. The only downside is that it is often too crowded to get a table!

Great beer selection, including (last few times I went) the new "Lug Tread" ale from Beau's All Natural Brewing Company -- very tasty.

Had a very good Father's Day Brunch at the Manx. Just the regular brunch, but it was Father's Day.

Enjoyed my eggs benedict thoroughly. Nice egg on top of peameal bacon. Mmm peameal. Picked at my daughter's cowboy beans. She thought it was too spicy, but she thinks ketchup is too spicy. Not home on the range, but a good side. Coffee could use a taste punch.

Overall a tasty brunch and kid friendly.

I always get the same thing when we go to the Manx for brunch (the one vegan option), the tofu scramble wrap. It's served with a side salad and is an enormous portion size. Very tasty, and I love the salad dressing. My one complaint is that the wrap can be a bit spicy for the first meal of the day. They pre-mix the spices, so you can't get them to tone down the heat, unfortunately. I also love the orange and mango juice and the limitless supply of yummy coffee.

Haven't been in 3 years, but they had the most sensuous, satisfying garlic mashed potatoes accompanying your original benny. They would poke a couple of little garlic sprouts into the top of the pile of mash; it just made me giggle. Plus its so cozy and informal, you just want to have a game of checkers after brunch so that you can get around to ordering a pint from their ample bar. This place is one of the bigger reasons I want to move back to Ottawa.